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As global crude oil prices continue to strain India's energy economy, state governments and public sector oil companies are stepping up fuel-saving and expenditure-control measures. The Tripura government on Monday announced a two-day weekend for all government offices and revised office timings as part of efforts to cut fuel and electricity consumption, while government-owned oil firms continue to suffer losses of nearly Rs 600 crore per day despite recent fuel price hikes.

After a Cabinet meeting, Tripura Transport, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said all government offices in the state would now remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Earlier, offices observed holidays only on Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.

The state government has also revised office timings. Government offices will now function from 9.30 am to 6 pm instead of the earlier 10 am to 5.30 pm schedule. According to an official order issued by the General Administrative Department, the measures are aimed at reducing electricity and fuel consumption through strict energy-saving practices.

The Tripura government has simultaneously withdrawn the recently introduced roster system for Group C and Group D employees, under which 50 per cent of staff were working from home to conserve fuel. All employees will now attend offices regularly on working days.

Chowdhury said the state had already implemented several expenditure-control initiatives following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for fuel conservation amid the ongoing West Asia crisis. These measures include holding official meetings virtually, increasing the use of electric and CNG vehicles, reducing administrative vehicle usage, and avoiding large-scale political and non-political gatherings.

The minister also announced that five Inspector of Small Savings posts under the Finance Department would be filled through the Tripura Public Service Commission. Additionally, the Cabinet approved recruitment for 81 vacant posts across multiple departments, including the Information and Cultural Affairs Department and the Public Works Department.

Meanwhile, government-owned oil marketing companies — Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum — are still losing around Rs 600 crore per day despite the latest petrol and diesel price hikes, according to a senior government official.

The oil companies recently increased petrol prices by Rs 2.61 per litre and diesel prices by Rs 2.71 per litre, marking the fourth fuel price revision in 10 days. The cumulative increase in petrol and diesel prices has now reached nearly Rs 7.50 per litre after daily revisions resumed following a prolonged freeze.

Joint Secretary in the Petroleum Ministry Sujata Sharma said global fuel prices had risen far more sharply than domestic retail prices. According to her, petrol prices globally increased by 22 per cent and diesel prices by 27 per cent, while in India the hikes were limited to 7.7 per cent for petrol and 8.6 per cent for diesel.

She noted that the Centre had already reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per litre, resulting in a revenue impact of Rs 14,000 crore. However, even after these interventions, oil companies continue to face significant under-recoveries.

ICRA Senior Vice President Prashant Vasisht said losses remain elevated because of rising LPG under-recoveries and persistently high crude oil prices. Data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell showed that the average crude import price rose to $107.84 per barrel in May compared to $69.01 per barrel in February before theIran conflict escalated.

Brent crude prices have remained volatile due to tensions in West Asia, briefly falling to around $90 per barrel after a temporary ceasefire announcement before surging again to over $126 per barrel amid fears of renewed hostilities.

Despite the mounting pressure, the government has maintained that meeting domestic fuel demand remains a priority and oil companies will continue sourcing crude suitable for Indian refineries.